One week has passed since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games commenced, the games some people have unkindly called the Pandemic Games. Those same critics have claimed the variant likely to spread after the show is over will be called the Tokyo variant and will forever haunt Japan and bring embarrassment to the Japanese. Goodness.

Mainstream Japanese are thrilled at the incredible performance of their athletes, not to mention the medals. All those glittering gold medals. Of course, they are very worried at the increasing COVID-19 numbers and where this might all end up. But the Games are a welcome distraction for many.